This is side was taken from a HMV 78 (OAE 198) picked up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on a trip in May 2012. "Wey Feker Wey Feker" is an Amharic phrase which translates into "Oh Love Oh Love." This shellac series JOE / OAE on HMV was released as part of celebrations of the Haile Selassie Jubilee in 1955, and the releases continued at least until 1961. Interestingly, this series was printed on 78rpm when 33rpm had existed since 1948 and 45rpm since 1949 in Ethiopia. This is the only known copy in existence and a listing of this shellac is to appear in an upcoming discography on Ethiopian music.

Mulugheta Haile - Wey Feker Wey Feker (Ethiopia)

This is side was taken from a HMV 78 (OAE 168) picked up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on a trip in May 2012. This shellac series JOE / OAE on HMV was released as part of celebrations of the Haile Selassie Jubilee in 1955, and the releases continued at least until 1961. Interestingly, this series was printed on 78rpm when 33rpm had existed since 1948 and 45rpm since 1949 in Ethiopia. This is the only known copy in existence and a listing of this shellac is to appear in an upcoming discography on Ethiopian music.

Ahmed Awad With Choir - Ama Ama (Somalia)

This is side was taken from a HMV 78 (OAE 181) picked up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on a trip in May 2012. The song was reportedly very popular on it's release and features the lyric "your love is my body and you are my mirror to see myself." This shellac series JOE / OAE on HMV was released as part of celebrations of the Haile Selassie Jubilee in 1955, and the releases continued at least until 1961. Interestingly, this series was printed on 78rpm when 33rpm had existed since 1948 and 45rpm since 1949 in Ethiopia. This is the only known copy in existence and a listing of this shellac is to appear in an upcoming discography on Ethiopian music.

Assafa Abate - Fikre Saounate Mastoate Neshi (Ethiopia)

This deep Ethiopian 45 was picked up on a trip to Addis Abeba in May 2012. "Tilagnko Hedetch" is the A side. The details are:

PH 7-159 A
Tefera Kassa: Tilagnko Hedetch
Music written by Tefera Kassa
Words written by Gezahegan Desta
Accompanied by the Imperial Body Guard Band
PH 7-159 B
Tefera Kassa: Fikir Aygebatchew
Music and words written by Tefera Kassa
Accompanied by the Imperial Body Guard Band

Tefera Kassa & Imperial Body Guard - Tilagnko Hedetch (Ethiopia)

Taken from a 45 found in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia in 2012 - I have little information on this artist other than that Hassan Attia (sic) was born in 1923 and died 1993. This beautiful cut however was printed in  Czechoslovakia and it's my understanding that each side is a part of the same song. Sublime.

Hassen Atia & His Orchestra - Sudanese Songs Pt.2 (Sudan)

Shifta Shakla - A rough mix of finds from Addis Abeba during a trip to Ethiopia in March 2011.

Yestesfa Tezeta – Tesfa Mariam Kidane (AMHA Records AE170)
Esqegizew Berchie – Alemayehu Eshete (AMHA Records AE770)
Teferoh Denknow – Hirut Bekele (Kaifa Records KF49)
Yasdestal – Mohamud Ahmed &amp; Venus Band (AMHA Records AE360)
Altegbabanim – Tilahun Gessesse &amp; Orchestra Rainbow (Philips PH269)
Wededkuh Maletish Layker – Getatchew Kassa &amp; Wallias (Philips PH237)
Tilagn Kobelelech – Getatchew Tessema (Philips PH176)
Tezetash Rekik – Ayalew Mesfin &amp; The Black Lion Band (Kaifa Records 8160)
Fikir Bezebezegn – Mahmoud Ahmed &amp; Imperial Body Guard (Philips PH149)

shifta shakla

Ayitchat Neber -Tezera Haile Michael & Imperial Body Guard

Kewedet Tegetnesh - Tezera Haile Michael & Imperial Body Guard

Belew Bedubaye - Menelik Wossenachew & All Star Band (Ethiopia)

Tezeta - Menelik Wossenachew & All Star Band (Ethiopia)

An African version of the Davy Jones classic "Sookie Sookie" released as the "B" side to a Docteur Nico 45 cut in Zaire in 1968. I picked it up from an old record store in Lome, Togo in June 2012.

Bovic and Orchestre African Fiesta - Sookie (Congo)

Taken from an LP of Northern Ethiopian songs called "Ethiopian Hit Parade." I picked this up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in April, 2012.

Tewolde Redda - Nehdar Zeietke (Ethiopia)

Beautiful Tigrinyan melody from Tewolde Redda. This track is taken from an LP of Northern Ethiopian songs called "Ethiopian Hit Parade." I picked this up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in April, 2012.

Tewolde Redda - Milenu (Ethiopia)

This track was lifted from one side of a HMV 78 that I picked up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in May 2012. It is particularly interesting as the lyrics are a mixture of Somali and Oromo yet the melody is Amharic.

Ahmed Aoud with Somali Choir - Addis Ababa Biya Janoi (Ethiopia/Somalia)

Taken from a 45 out on the AMHA label that I picked up in Addis Ababa in April, 2012.

Girma Beyene - Ene Negne By Manesh (Ethiopia)

An Afro-cuban cut taken from the self titled album recorded in Cotonou, Benin. I picked this up in Lome, Togo in June 2012.

Honore Avolonto et l'orchestre Black Santiago - Bonne Annee (Benin)

Cover of a Dizzy Gillespie track lifted from the comp "Les Merveilles Du Passes (1962 - 1964) (Vol. 1)" released on the "African" record label in 1985. I picked this record up in Lome, Togo in June 2012.

Bantous Jazz - Watchi Wara (Zaire)

This slow burner is the flip to the phenomenal 45 "Esqegizew Berchie" by Alemayehu Eshete released on the AMHA label (AE770). I picked up this coloured vinyl copy on a trip to Addis Ababa in March, 2011.

Alemayehu Eshete - Tedesteshal Woi (Ethiopia)

Getachew Kassa just exudes coolness on this cut, the flip to another great track "Yene Alem." I picked this 45 up in April 2011 on a trip through Addis Ababa. 

The details of the pressing are:

PH 7 - 237 A
Getatchew Kassa: Yene Alem
Traditional
Arranged by Girma Beyene
Accompanied by the Walias
PH 7 - 237 B
Getatchew Kassa: Wededkuh Maletish Layker
Music: Hailu M.
Words: Tadeos
Arranged by Girma Beyene
Accompanied by the Walias
Year: 1974 
Record pressed in East Africa

Getachew Kassa - Wededkuh Maletish Layker (Ethiopia)

"Shifta Shakla" is an Ethiopian Amharic phrase which loosely translates to "Bandit Vinyl." The music on this site is all recorded from vinyl records found on my travels to different corners of the world. Enjoy.

Shifta Shakla*

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